Alltel begins picture-messaging service

Alltel Corp. jumped into the multimedia messaging business launching picture-messaging capabilities to its Axcess wireless data offering allowing customers to take, send and receive color photos with voice and text messages to another picture-messaging handset, as an Internet link for non-picture messaging handsets or to any e-mail address. Alltel is offering the LG LX5450 handset as the initial device for the service, which the carrier said will retail for $100 with a two-year contract and can store up to 20 photos on the handset, or customers can upload pictures to Alltel’s My Media online photo album. The Axcess Picture Messaging service is free for the first month and then $4 per month for unlimited picture messaging until July. After July, customers will receive up to 30 picture messages for the $4 per-month fee and be charged 25 cents per additional message sent or received.